Hamline University Athletics

Sydney Fransiscus has waited patiently two years for the opportunity to be in the every day lineup-- and she is now making the most of it. The junior softball outfielder played a major role last weekend, going 5-for-1 with six RBI at the plate as Hamline opened MIAC play with four wins for the first time since 2010. 

Fransiscus got things off to a great start when she dropped a perfect bunt that scored the winning run in the last of the seventh inning that gave HU a 1-0 win over Carleton in the conference lidlifter. The Iowan then went 2-for-3 and knocked in three runs in a 6-5 win that gave the Pipers a sweep and coach Jim Rubbelke his 200th career win. 

One day later, Fransiscus had RBIs in both games as Hamline won twice at Gustavus Adolphus, 5-2 and 8-0. Counting a 1-for-3 effort in her last game in Arizona, the outfielder has jumped her batting average 96 points to .286. 

She will get more chances to do so this week. Hamline hosts Macalester for a pair of games Wednesday at Meredith Field (3:30 p.m.) HU plays at St. Olaf Saturday and return to Meredith on Sunday to tangle with St. Thomas. Both doubleheaders start at 1:00 p.m.